Buckle



A. BLISS Dec. 21, 1954 BUCKLE Filed Jan. 9, 1952 561 24 FIG? JNVEN TOR.Al ben Bl ass BY ATTORMNEY United States Patent Ofiice 2,697,260Patented Dec. 21, 1954 BUCKLE Albert Bliss, Hollywood, Calif., assignorto Arthur Thomas Sturdy, Jr., Warwick, R. I.

Application January 9, 1952, Serial No. 265,620 Claims. (Cl. 24176)Another object of the present invention is to provide a belt buckleconstruct1on having a belt buckle which is simple in construction,having a minimum number of movable parts, and easy and economical tomanufacture and assemble.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, myinvention consists of a novel arrangement of parts, more fully disclosedin the detailed de scription following, in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, and more particularly defined in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a buckle embodying myinvention and attached to a belt;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the buckle alone;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 on Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the spring tongue.

In the manufacture of belts, it has become desirable of the buckle to beconcealed behind the belt and providing for a novel effect at the frontof the belt.

Referring more in detail to the drawings illustrating my invention,particularly Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, the buckle 10 is of a generallyrectangular construction. It comprises a rear frame member 11 which maybe integrally stamped from sheet stock. The rear frame member 11comprises end bar portions 12 and 13 integrally connected by spacedparallel horizontal strips 14 and 15. The strips 14 and 15 areintegrally joined at the central portions thereof by a supporting strip16, said strip 16 having a centrally disposed opening 16a formedtherein.

At the outer end of each bar portion 12 and 13 is an integral upturnedshort supporting bar 17 providing spaced supports adjacent the upper andlower edges of the buckle. The upper bars 17 are integrally connected bya strip or flange 18 and the lower bars 17 by a strip 19, as shown inFig. 5. The strips 18 and 19 are mounted at right angles to thesupporting bars 17 to form channel portions with the rear frame member11 so that the upper and lower edges of the buckle comprise U-shapedchannel members. The channel portions, which are defined by the outerends of the rear frame member 11, the supporting bars 17, and flanges 18and 19, are open along the length thereof between said supporting bars.It is apparent then, that these longitudinally extending channel portionopenings which are formed between said supporting bars 17, provideaccessibility to the edges of the belt disposed in the channel portions,and enable the buckle to be simply and quickly adjusted in position. Ifdesired, the strips 18 and 19 may be omitted and the bars 17 bent 2inwardly to form spaced channel members, as shown in dotted lines at 18aand 19a.

To attach the buckle to one end of a belt, the construction shown inFig. 5 may be used. The end bar 13 is provided with an integrallaterally extending plate 20 having a central opening 21 and an end slot22, leaving a bar 23 extending transversely across the plate. The uppersaid lower edges may be turned downwardly to form ears While anysuitable mechanism may be used for releasably locking the belt inadjustable position, I prefer 25 is curved to extend rearwardly of thebuckle, the free end 28 forming a hook portion and extending upwardlyjust below the level of the opening 21 in the plate 20.

Now, referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, one end of the porting bars 17and beneath the ornamental strips 18 and 19, as shown in Fig. 1. Thebelt is pulled as tight as required and pressure is then applied to thespring tongue 25 pushing the hook portion 28 upwardly through the Thebelt is now locked in position from slipping out of place. As canreadily be seen in Figs. 13 inclusive, substantially all of theoperative parts of the buckle are now concealed by the only the narrowornamental strips 18 and 19 along the in addition, the strips 18 and 19may be of any desired shape or configuration. Since these aresubstantially the only exposed portions of the belt when in use, theycan be varied to ing 31, as shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, the plate 20,to which the free end of the belt is attached, is illustrated as beingmade integral with the base similarly to the bar It is quite obviousthat both the bar 17 and the plate 20 may be made separately andotherwise attached to the base. i

In the illustrated form, the base is shown as formed of a plurality ofintegrally connected strips. However, the base may readily be formed ofa single sheet of stock since it is hidden by the belt when in use. Theconstruction is simple and easy and economical to manufacture andassemble. The belt is positively held in position and the method oflocking it in position is easy to operate and positive in action. Theresultant belt hides the wholly functional portions of the mechanism andprovides a pleasing and provocative design which can readily be suppliedwith an infinite variety of ornamentations.

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to aperson skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A belt buckle comprising a rear frame member, means for attaching oneend of said frame member to one end of a belt, flanged portions mountedalong the upper and lower edges of said frame member and in 3 spacedrelation thereto, said flanged portions extending towards each other inspaced relation to form spaced parallel channel portions adjacent theupper and lower edges of said frame member, whereby the free end of thebelt is slidable through said channels, and means on said frame memberto releasably lock said free end of the belt in adjusted position insaid channels, said last named means comprising a spring tongue havingone end mounted on said frame and the other end extending away from saidframe out of the path of movement of said belt, said free-end of saidtongue having a hook portion adapted to engage a belt opening when saidspring tongue is pushed into the path of movement of said belt throughsaid channels.

2. A belt buckle comprising a rear frame member, means integral withsaid frame for attaching one end of said frame member to one end of abelt, flanged portions integrally mounted along the upper and loweredges of said frame member and in spaced relation thereto, said flangedportions extending towards each other in spaced relation to form spacedparallel channel portions adjacent the upper and lower edges of saidframe member, whereby the free end of the belt is slidable through saidchannels, and means on said frame member to releasably lock said freeend of the belt in adjusted position in said channels, said lastnamedmeans comprising a spring tongue having one end mounted on said frameand the other end extending away from said frame out of e path ofmovement of said belt, said free end of said tongue having a hookportion adapted to engage a belt opening when said spring tongue ispushed into the path of movement of said belt through said channels.

3. A belt buckle comprising a frame, means for attaching one end of saidframe to one end of a belt, said frame being open at each end to permitsliding movement of the free end of the belt therethrough, and a springtongue mounted on said frame and normally extending away from said frameout of the path of movementof the free end of the belt, the free end ofsaid spring tongue terminating in a hook portion adapted to enter andengage the belt openings when said spring tongue is pushed into the pathof movement of said belt.

4. A belt buckle comprising a rectangular frame member, means forattaching one end of said frame member to one end of a belt, a pair ofspaced supports extending integrally at right angles from the upper'an dthe lower edges of said frame, a strip mounted on the upper supports anda strip mounted on the lower supports, said strips forming channels withsaid frame permitting sliding movement of the free end of the belttherethrough, and means for relasablylocking said free end of the beltto said frame, said last named means compnsing a spring tongue havingother end exten one end mounted on said frame and the ding away fromsaid frame out of the path of movement of said belt, said free end ofsaid tongue having a hook portion adapted to engage a belt opening whensaid spring tongue is pushed into the path of movement of said beltthrough said channels.

5. A belt buckle comprising a rectangular frame member, means integralwith said frame for attaching one end of said frame member to one end ofa belt, a pair of spaced supports extending integrally at right anglesfrom the upper and the lower edges of said frame, a strip integrally mounted on the upper supports and a strip integrally mounted on the lowersupports, said strips forming channels with said frame permittingsliding movement of the free end of the belt therethrough, and means forreleasably locking said free 'end of the belt to said frame, said lastnamed-means comprising a spring tongue having one end mounted on saidframe and the other end extending away from said frame out of the pathof movement of said belt, said free end of said tongue having a hookportion adapted to engage a belt opening when said spring tongue ispushed into the path of movement of said belt through said channels.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number Number UNITED STATESPATENTS Switzerland Sept. 16, 1935

